Chamber and committees

I expect to receive the Expert Group on Prostitution’s report before the end of this year.

The Housing Improvement Task Force made recommendations about the ways in which local authorities should be able to assist people who have difficulty in carrying out necessary repairs and improvements to their homes. One option proposed was that where a person had a low income and a high level of equity in a property, an equity loan could fund such works. We are currently considering, in the light of the response to the consultation paper Maintaining Houses, Preserving Homes, whether and how to make provision in the forthcoming Housing Bill include powers for local authorities to make such loans. We are also examining the scope for making this type of lending available through other means.

In relation to home ownership, a discussion paper outlining the Scottish Executive's proposals for introducing a range of shared equity tenure models was published by Communities Scotland on 23 November. A copy is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34524).

A recently published research report showed that the number of cases in Scottish Courts involving the European Convention on Human Rights has dropped in recent years. No comprehensive figures are available on the number of such cases where the applicant is legally aided.

The announcement by Malcolm Chisholm on 30 Sept 2004 that paediatric, maternity and adult acute services should be located on a single site in Glasgow means that the transport of critically ill children will continue to be available to the current high standard.

National Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland will be fully involved in the detailed planning and implementation of the proposal for the triple co-location of services in Glasgow.

The Health Technology Board forScotland (HTBS) (now part of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland) issued advice onthe use of etanercept and infliximab on the following dates:

17 May 2002 - Comment on theNational Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal Guidancenumber 35 on the use of etanercept for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

17 May 2002 - Comment on theNICE Technology Appraisal Guidance number 36 on the use of etanercept and infliximabfor the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

28 June 2002 - Comment on the NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance number40 on the use of infliximab for Crohn’s disease.

The comments can be accessedat www.nhshealthquality.org.

On 12 July 2004, the Scottish MedicinesConsortium (SMC) issued advice to NHSScotland about the use of infliximab for thetreatment of ankylosing spondylitis in patients who have severe axial symptoms,elevated serological markers of inflammatory activity and who have responded inadequatelyto conventional therapy. On the same date, the SMC also advised on the use of etanerceptfor the treatment of active and progressive psoriatic arthritis in adults. The SMCadvice can be accessed at www.scottishmedicines.org.

In each case, the HTBS and theSMC advised that NHSScotland should take account of the advice and ensure that recommendeddrugs and treatments are made available to meet clinical need.

All actions to increase franchise revenues will decrease the overall public subsidy requirement and increase capacity for funding franchise operations.

Yes. Performance is monitored across a number of discreet service groups including suburban, express, peak and off peak services.

The introduction of automatic ticket barriers at Waverley, Haymarket and QueenStreet stations is expected to increase revenues by around £1.5 million per year.

Service improvements from the new Franchise began with its launch on 17 October 2004. For example, early improvements include higher standards of cleaning of stations and trains, additional ticket inspectors to be in place by the beginning of December and improved customer communications.

Longer term improvements for passengers will be derived from a £40 million rolling programme of investment throughout the life of the Franchise. This includes £20 million scheduled for station upgrades, more than 90 extra customer liaison staff and the rolling out of CCTV on trains across Scotland.

First ScotRail is also required, by the terms of the franchise agreement, to deliver a 2% year-on-year improvement in train reliability over the term of the franchise.

The franchise agreement contains targets for punctuality, which divides the train fleet into eight service groups. There are targets for each of these groups, based on minutes lateness of trains. Information on lateness is gathered and reported on at least monthly.

The franchise agreement requires the operator to provide a punctual service by prescribing a maximum number of “minutes late” which is permitted during any four week period. Where the operator exceeds the permitted minutes late, a financial penalty may be imposed. Conversely, an incentive payment may be made if the operator does not exceed the permitted minutes late.

In addition, the minutes late target is to be tightened by 2% year-on-year throughout the life of the franchise.